Acetylene generator



June 4, 1940. D. F. GE IGER ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed Sept. 2. 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR. flav'idl geglqen ATTORNEY.

June 4, 1940. D, GE|GER 2,202,848

ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed Sept. 2, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY.

June 4, 1,940. n. F. GEIGER AcE'rmEnE GENERA OR Filed sept. 2, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 V INVEN TOR. Jaz- ZZZZ eger, B

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE one-hall to Carl J. Nyquist, Los Angeles, Calif and one-half to Rudolph Shuhart, Summit City, Calif.

Application September 2, 1931, Serial No. 162,141

14 Claims.

' This invention relates to improvements in acetylene generators of that type employing "carbide to water principle and by which gas is generated automatically as used. More particularly this application relates to specific improved features upon the construction set forth in my companion application for Letters Patent filed August 23rd, 1937, hearing Serial Number 160,489, and of which this application is a continuation in part.

The objects and attainments set forth in my companion application above referred to are equally applicable to the improved features of the present invention and reference thereto is hereby made. The present invention provides a structure which is particularly although not exclusively adapted for use with finely divided carbide and which is extremely simple and inexpensive in constructon, easy to operate, not liable to get out of order and efllcient in use. In the present invention the features, such as air excluding, continuous gas supply at constant pressure, heat control, recharging and sludging while in operation and safety arrangements, are present as in the structure set forth in my companion application.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved acetylene generator; Fig. 2 is a plan of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical central section of the scrubber; Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly broken away and in section of a detail showing the body of the generator and the heat control apparatus; Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line -66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section of a detail showing a portion of the hoppers and carbide feed mechanism; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a detail showing a portion of the coupling mechanism between the hoppers; Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a portion of the carbide feed mechanism used in connection with the hoppers; Fig. 10 is a section taken substantially on line Ill-40 of Fig. '7, showing part of the coupling mechanism between hoppers; Fig. 11 is a side elevationpartly in section of the structure shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a vertical central section of a detail showing part of the carbide master feed control; Fig. 13 is an enlarged ver-' tical section of a detail showing the heat control valve, and Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the hand operated valve opener for admitting liquid into the gas generator.

Generator tank The invention employs any suitable liquid holding receptacle such as the cylindrical tank A, having a crowned top or upper end In and a crowned bottom or floor I I. Normally about two thirds or any suitable portion of the tank is filled with a suitable liquid such as water, the remaining upper portion serving as a gas storage chamber. The tank is provided with a generating tube B, such as is disclosed in the structure of my companion application for patent above referred to excepting as to certain details which will be here- 10 inafter described. This gas generating tube is shown centrally located in the tank although its position may be varied as desired. The tube extends downwardly into and is sealed by the liquid in the container and terminates a short distance 1 above the floor of the tank with upper carbide receiving end extending through and tightly seated upon the crowned end I 0.

Carbide charging Two carbide feed and charging hoppers C and m D are superimposed above the gas generating tube B and connected by a transparent sight tube l2. The lower feed hopper C is connected by a transparent sight tube l3 to the upper end of the gas generating tube B and the upper end l0 of the 25 tank. These sight tubes permit observation of the carbide flow from the upper to the lower hopper and from the lower hopper into the gas generating tube, and enable the operator to determine when either of the hoppers is empty. The lower feed hopper C is secured to the upper end I of the tank by any suitable means such as bolts l4 and a gasketed coupling i5, and the sight tubes are tightly connected in suitably gasketed seats it which produce gas tight joints. 85 The'upper sight tube is securely held upon the lower hopper by a lower supporting annulus I'I (see Fig. '7), the latter being held rigidly in place by the bolts I8. The upper ends of these bolts have vertical threaded studs IQ for separably hold- 40 ing the upper filling hopper with its outlet in juxtaposition to the inlet of the feed hopper for transferring carbide without admitting air into the hoppers. The annulus l'l has a central downwardly tapering funnel 20 for receiving and drop- 46 ping carbide from above into the feed hopper. The lower end of this funnel forms a valve seat upon which the carbide charging valve 2| is adapted to close upwardly when the charging hopper is removed for the purpose of recharging with carbide.

The charging hopper has a funnel shaped floor 22 terminating downwardly in and secured to an extension funnel 23, the latter corresponding with and superimposed above the funnel 20. Said B extension funnel is carried by an upper annulus 24 which with annulus l1 form companion members of a coupling by which the charging and feed hoppers are separably coupled. The upper annulus has a plurality of radial hook members 25 (see Fig. 10), which by a swivel movement of the charging hopper engage the studs |9,in which position they are adapted to be fastened by the threaded nuts 26 upon said studs. A suitable packing 21 between the annulus members of said coupling assist in producing an air tight joint between the hopper units.

The charging hopper is closed except for the duct through the extension funnel 23, through which the charging hopper is adapted to be filled with ground carbide when said hopper is uncoupled and removed. The lower end of the extension funnel 23 forms a valve seat with which a sleeve valve 28 in hopper D cooperates. This sleeve valve reciprocates along the axis of the hopper and is slidably mounted in an outer cylindrical guide 29 (see Fig. 9), which is rigidly supported from the wall of the hopper by the horizontal tube 30. This tube forms a journal support for a rotary shaft 3| which carries on its outer end a crank handle 32 and on its inner end a pinion 33. The teeth of this pinion are meshed with the teeth of a pair of oppositely disposed reciprocable racks 34 and 35 so that as the pinion is revolved by handle 32 the racks are simultaneously reciprocated in opposite directions longitudinally in a stationary cylindrical guide 29. The sleeve valve 28 is connected to rack 35 and a valve actuating depression pin 36 is carried by rack 34, said pin being adapted when thrust downwardly from the superior or closed position shown in Fig. 9 to impinge against the tip of valve 2| and open said valve from its conical seat 20 and when returned to superior position to release valve 2| into closing position. Thus when valve 28 is closed and pin 36 simultaneously raised into the position shown in Fig. 9 by turning handle 32 or the charging hopper is removed, the valve 2| is permitted to close automatically as will be hereinafter set forth and when the charging hopper is refilled with carbide and replaced upon its seat, opening of valve 28 is simultaneously accompanied by the downward thrust of the valve depression pin 36 and the opening of the charging valve 2| into the position shown in Fig. '1 to permit the transfer of carbide by gravity from the charging hopper into the feeding hopper.

To prevent the removal of the charging hopper until the charging valve 2| has been released into closed position and to exclude air from the feed hopper during the recharging operation, I provide guards 31 which normally prevent the removal of nuts 26. These guards consist of plates extending inwardly over the studs l9 from a swivel band 38, the latter being journaled in an annular groove 39 traversing the outer ends of hooks 25 in substantially a horizontal plane and concentric with the axis of the hoppers. The swivel band 38, and consequently the guards 31 which it carries, has limited rotary movement on the annulus, said movement being controlled by a connection with the crank arm 32 whereby it is necessary to turn the crank arm into a position in which the thrust pin 36 is raised, and the charging valve released into closed position. This excludes air from entering the feed hopper, and the valve 28 is closed before the charging hopper can be released. This controlling connection as shownconsists of a radiating arm 40 from the swivel band 38, an eye 4| radiating from the axis of, and integral with, the handle 32 and a loose coupling link 42 (see Fig. 8). Thus only a partial revolution of the crank is permitted and at one end of a stroke the thrust pin releases valve 2| and closes valve 28 and at the end of the counter stroke the position of the parts is reversed. Thus the charging valve is positively caused to function to prevent air from entering the feed hoppers when the charging hopper is released. To hold the guard supporting band 38 locked in guarding position a spring pressed pawl 43 (see Fig. '10) is mounted upon the band 38 and adapted to releasably engage by pin 44 the gnnulus 24 in the outer end of one of its hooks The valve 2| which as described automatically closes the feed hopper when the charging hopper is released consists of three telescopic tubular sections 45, 46 and 41, the upper section being telescoped over and the lower section within the middle section 46. The middle section is mounted vertically and rigidly along the axis of and upon the wall of the feed hopper by a horizontal tubular journal 48 in which is the rotary shaft 49. The outer end of this shaft carries a hand operable crank handle 50 and the inner end carries a toothed pinion 5|, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of a reciprocable rack 52. Said rack is guided in the telescopic section 46 and attached to the tubular section 41. The lower end of the tubular section 41 acts as a valve upon a valve seat 53 surrounding the master valve feed port, thus enabling the operator to close said feed port by hand when desired. The upper tubular section 45 which slides upon the middle fixed section 46 is formed with the conical valve head 2| of any suitable construction desired and contains an expansion helical spring 54 and a suitable removable spacer 55, whereby the valve is automatically closed except when depressed isito open position by the valve depression pin Carbide feed The gasketed coupling l5 has a circular plate i5 which assists in clamping the upper end of the gas generating tube centrally upon the upper end of the tank, said plate serving to hold the lower end of the sight tube tightly in place and being formed with a conical wall below the lower end of the sight tube and terminating in the integral valve seat 53 both for the downwardly closing valve 41 and the upwardly closing conical master valve 56. This master valve is adapted to regulate and control the feed of carbide from the feed hopper into the gas generating tube B and is carried upon the upper end of the freely movable thrust rod 51, said rod being pivotally attached to a suitable linkage 58. This linkage is mounted upon the wall of the tank and connected by rod 59 with the spring cushioned coupling 6|! and the reciprocable propeller 6| (see Fig. 12), of a controlling diaphragm 62. This controlling diaphragm is part of a feed regulator E which consists 01. a cylindrical closed receptacle connected with and mounted upon the tank by the tubular coupling 63. The controlling diaphragm 62 extends across the lower end of the regulator casing thus dividing the receptacle into lower and upper compartments 64 and 65, said lower compartment 64 being connected by the coupling with the tank A to admit gas pressure from the tank against the lower side of the diaphragm. The upper compartment 65 is occu- Pied by a column of liquid, such as water, above (I 1 maca ue I through ports 6| into the gas generating tube B.

diaphragm 62 to exert the pressure desired to generate gas in the tank as indicated by the gauge 66. If the pressure of gas generated exceeds the desired pressure a release valve 61 opens automatically against the tension of a'coll spring 68 and releases excessive pressure of gas outside until pressure on the underside of the diaphragm is lowered sufliciently to allow the diaphragm to return to neutral position. A lever 68 fulcrumed in the housing of the diaphragm valve has its power end placed freely between the diaphragm actuating plate 6I and a pair of adjusting nuts 18 on the connecting rod 58. Its

work e'nd plays freely against and operates the release valve 1I. With this feed control the diaphragm 62 is balanced by opposed pressure of gas within the generator and the column of liquid in the feed regulator E and any excessive pressure is released. Should the pressure of gas decrease the downward movement of the diaphragm is multiplied by the linkage and an opening movement communicated to the master valve 56 which in turn allows carbide to feed from the feed hopper into liquid contained in the gas generating tube B. The pin 12 on valve 56 permits the valve to assume a free open position as regards its seat without becoming detached. Above the diaphragm 62 and secured to feed regulator E is a valved fitting 18 (see Fig. 1), having an automatic pressure release or blow off valve 14 which is adapted to be set to release at a predetermined pressure in the upper compartment 65. A retractile spring 15 connected diagonally across the linkage 58 relieves the weight of the linkage and master valve thus causing the diaphragm to function more readily.

Hydraulic by-pass'valve A hydraulic by-pass valve for equalizing the water level between the gas generating tube and gas chamber in the tank is employed which consists of a concentric tube 88' spaced from the outer wall of the gas generating tube B and forming a closed chamber for holding a column of sealing liquid. Gas is admitted into this closed chamber from the upper end of the gas generating tube by means of port openings 8i and overflow ducts 82 are provided leading from the lower end of the closed chamber through the upper portion of the concentric tube 88 into the upp r portion of the gas chamber in the tank. Liquid passes into the gas chamber in the tank when the gas pressure ir. tube B lowers the level of the column of liquid in the closed chamber surrounding the tube.

gas pressure is generated in the gas generating tube which through ports 6I equalizes the liquid levels in both the gas generating tube and the hydraulic valve. The excess gas pressure in the gas generating tube over that in the gas chamber in the tank required to bring the liquid down to the bottom of the tube forces the gas in the tube to pass around its lower end through the liquid in the tank and into the upper portion of the tank or gas chamber. The liquid columns in ducts 82 will then be equivalent in height to the amount in height of liquid displaced in the gas generating tube B. In case of leaks in parts above the gas generating tube B the gas pressure in the generator could force liquid up into contact with carbide in the feed hopper. This is prevented by the hydraulic by-pass valve as the gas pressure in the generator would lower the liquid columns in tubes 82 until gas would by-pass through the chamber within the hydraulic by-pass valve When carbide is fed, a

The gas pressure and the liquid level in the tube would then equalize the gas pressure and liquid level. in the body of the tank and thereby eliminate any chance of liquid reaching the carbide inthe carbide hopper.

Liquid level control Liquid is shown supplied to the generator by the service pipe 84 leading downwardly and entering the lower end of the tank through branch 85 so that cold liquid such as water when used enters the lower portion of the tank nearest the point of contact between the carbide and liquid in the gas generating tube B. An egress duct 86 draining any excess of liquid outwardly from below the normal level of liquid to be maintained in the tank is provided. These two ducts arecontrolled in operation by a pair of inlet and outlet valves 81 and "having a pairof valve stems 88 between which the work arm 98 of an operating lever. 9| is poised. This lever 8| extends through an opening 92 into the tank and is fulcrumed upon a shaft 93 which is joumaled in a support 84 which forms a liquid tight connection. The inner end of the lever carries a float 95 which regulates the operation of the valve to maintain an even level 01' liquid in the tank. A check valve 96 in the service line ahead of the liquid supply valve 81 is controlled by a diaphragm actuating element 91, said diaphragm actuating element being connected with the egress duct 86 whereby if the gas in the gas chamber within the tank increases for any reason above predetermined normal pressure, the check valve prevents any further supply of liquid to the tank until the gas pressure has reduced to normal, whereupon the check valve opens and permits the normal supply of liquid by feed valve 81.

A hand operable valve opener I86 (see Fig. 14), having an outwardly extending arm I81 placed between the stem. of valve 81 and the work arm member 88 of the float arm 8i, and flanges I88 journaled freely upon shaft 93 enables the operator by tilting arm I81 by hand to open the feed valve 81 and admit liquid .into the tank. An air trap or vent I84 of usual construction is connected with the feed pipe 85.

Liquid temperature control To automatically maintain the liquid in the generator at a low temperature, cold water or other suitable liquid is admitted to the lower part of the generator through the supply duct 85 from a suitable service supply pipe 84. The heat controlling liquid by-passes around the automatically controlled supply valve 81 and is operated through the liquid control thermostat 98. This thermostat is connected by duct 99 with the diaphragm controlled valve I88 (see Fig. 13), the latter being held normally closed by a spring IIlI. When a rise in temperature causes the thermostat to function the diaphragm valve I88 opens ducts I82 and I83, thus admitting liquid at reduced temperature into the tank.

Gas dryer and scrubber Gas as produced by the generator and used passes outwardly through a valved duct II8 from the gas chamber in the upper portion of the tank into the combined dryer and scrubber F. This dryer and scrubber consists of a cylindrical container which holds liquid in its lower portion. An inverted receptacle III is immersed in the liquid and the gas is introduced through a perforated valved duct I I2 into the receptacle. Gas emerges from the receptacle through perforations III in its lower end, is washed by the liquid. rises in the container. and is caused to pass through a basket of steel wool ill or other suitable material and out through the egress passage ill. The device is designed to permit easy filling and removal of the contents for cleaning.

Removal of sludge The lime and impurities deposited on the floor of the tank and tending to form incrustation are removed through a valved sludge duct ill from the generator. A flexible sludge arm ii! is journaled by one end upon the central portion of the dome floor ii and is adapted by revolving in a horizontal plane to sweep over the surface of the floor and break any incrustation and direct the sludge down and outwardly through the egress duct 8. The sludge arm is revolved by a shaft 9 which is coupled to the arm by a universal joint l2! and extends upwardlythrough the top of the tank and is revolved by a hand crank i2l. During the outward flow of sludge through valved duct H8 liquid is simultaneously admitted bythe float controlled liquid feed valve ill to maintain the normal level of liquid in the tank.

Operation To start operation the scrubber tank F is filled with water or other liquid to a level with the filling plug or opening 822 in its side. Next the overflow plug M3 in the gas outlet duct H0 is removed after valve iM has been closed. The drain pipe iZEi from valve 89 is plugged and the inlet valve iil opened by lifting the valve opener arm ill'l until liquid flows out of the overflow Mil. The valve til is then closed by releasing arm iflland the overflow I28 closed. This excludes air from. the tank A and tube B. Next the upper carbide charging hopper D is removed and filled with carbide after which it is replaced and crank arm 32 turned to open position, whereupon carbide is allowed to flow into the feed hopper C. When the feed hopper is filled crank arm 32 is moved into closed position which permits the removal of the charging hopper D so that it can be refilled and replaced as before. This operation excludes air from the hoppers. Next tank E is filled to exert the desired working pressure as indicated upon gauge 68 by connecting a suitable temporary filling duct such as a hose be-' tween a valved nipple 86 on the service line 36 and the valved fitting 83 (see Fig. 1), leading into the tank. After thus filling the valved connections are closed and the tmporary filling duct removed. Next the plug which was temporarily placed in drain 5% (see Fig. 5) is removed and valve i2 i opened. The crank arm 56 in the feed hopper C is turned to open valve 5'1? which allows carbide to start feeding. The first carbide fed drops into the liquid in the upper part of the generating tube B and the gas pressure created forces the liquid down the tube, the amountof liquid thus displaced being released by the drain valve 88. After the gas generating tube is completely filled with gas the carbide is fed. to the liquid at the lower extremity bf the tube and the gas thereafter generated passes up through the liquid in tanl: A and continues forcing the excess liquid out through drain valve 88 until the float closes valve 83. Carbide will continue to feed until suihcient pressure of gas is generated to raise the diaphragm d2 sufiflciently to close the master feed valve 56. Thereafter when the service valve i2 1 is opened and as gas is used the pressure in the tank will be automatically maintained by the carbide feed control E.

To remove sludge partly open the sludge drain valve ill and turn crank III. The sludge arm Ii! will directthe sludge to the drain opening. the gas pressure will force the sludge out through the drain valve, and the iloat controlled inlet valve 81 will automatically maintain the normal water level in the tank.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my invention together with the construction thereof which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the structure shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

I claim;

1. In an acetylene generator. the combination of a liquid container sealed to exclude air and form a, gas chamber above liquid therein and having a gas generating tube depending into the lower portion thereof, a carbide feed hopper having a feed duct entering said tube, a valve controliling said duct. means actuated by the pressure of gas in said container for actuating said valve and regulating the supply of carbide to said tube, a carbide charging hopper detachably connected by an air excluding duct to said feed hopper for transferring carbide from the charging hopper to the feed hopper, and a valve for closing said air excluding duct when the charging hopper is removed from the feed hopper, said charging hopper having a port outlet adapted to register with said air excluding duct when the charging hopper is connected with the feed hopper, a valve for closing said port outlet, an actuating device for opening said charging valve and means for opening said port closing valve and operating said actuating device to open said charging valve.

2. In an acetylene generator, the combination of a liquid container sealed to exclude air and form a gas chamber above liquid therein and having a gas generating tube depending into the lower portion thereof, a carbide feed hopper having a feed duct entering said tube, a master valve controlling said duct, means actuated by the pressure of gas in said container for actuating said valve and regulating the supply of carbide to said tube, a carbide charging hopper connected by an air excluding duct with said feed hopper for transferring carbide from the charging hopper to the feed hopper, a separable coupling having lower and upper elements by which the charging and feed hoppers are attached, a check valve movable upwardly to close the lower member of said coupling automatically, and a manually operable valve movable downwardly to close the upper element of the coupling having means operable simultaneously with its opening movement for opening the check valve when the coupling elements are united.

3. In an acetylene generator, the combination of a liquid container sealed to exclude air and form a gas chamber above liquid therein and having a gas generating tube depending into the lower portion thereof, a carbide feed hopper having a feed duct entering said tube, a master valve controlling said duct, means actuated by the pressure of gas in said container for actuating said valve and regulating the supply of carbide to said tube, a carbide charging hopper connected by an air excluding duct with said feed hopper for transferring carbide from the charging hopper to the feed hopper, a separable coupling having lower and upper elements by which the charging and feed hoppers are attached, a check valve movable upwardly to close the lower member of said coupling automatically, and a manually operable valve movable downwardly to close the upper element of the coupling having means operable simultaneously with its opening movement for opening the check valve when the coupling elements are united.

4. In an acetylene generator, the combination of a liquid container sealed to exclude air and form a gas chamber above liquid therein and having a gas generating, tube depending into the lower portion thereof, a carbide feed hopper having a feed duct entering said tube, a master valve controlling said duct, means actuated by the pressure of gas in said container for actuating said valve and regulating the supply of carbide to said tube, a carbide charging hopper connected by an air excluding duct with said feed hopper for transferring carbide from the charging hopper to the feed hopper, a separable coupling having lower and upper elements by which the charging and feed hoppers are attached, a check valve movable upwardly to close the lower member of said coupling automatically, and a manually operable valve movable downwardly to close the upper element of the coupling having means operable simultaneously with its opening movement for opening the check valve when the coupling elements are united.

5. In an acetylene genera-tor, the combination of a liquid container sealed to exclude air and form a gas chamber above liquid therein and having a gas generating tube depending into the lower portion thereof, a carbide feed hopper having a feed duct entering said tube, a master valve controlling said duct, means actuated by the pressure of gas in said container for actuating said valve and regulating the supply of carbide to said tube, a carbide charging hopper connected by an air excluding duct with said feed hopper for transferring carbide from the charging hopper to the feed hopper, a separable coupling having lower and upper elements by which the charging and feed hoppers are attached, a check valve movable upwardly to close the lower member of said coupling automatically, a normally operable valve movable downwardly to close the upper element of the coupling having means operable simultaneously with its opening movement for opening the check valve when the coupling elements are united, and means for preventing the uncoupling of the charging hopper from the feed hopper until the charging valve is closed and the check valve released to close the entrance into the feed hopper.

6. In an acetylene generator, the combination of a liquid container sealed to exclude air and form a gas chamber above liquid therein and having a gas generating tube depending into the lower portion thereof, a carbide feed hopper having a feed duct entering said tube, a master valve controlling said duct, means actuated by the pressure of gas in said container for actuating said valve and regulating the supply of carbide to said tube, a carbide charging hopper detachably connected by an air excluding duct with said feed hopper for transferring carbide from the charging hopper to the feed hopper, a charging valve serving to close said air excluding duct from below when the charging hopper is removed, sa-id charging hopper having a port outlet adapted to register with said air excluding duct when the charging hopper is connected with the feed hopper, a valve for closing said port outlet, an actuating device for opening said charging valve and means for opening said port closing valve and operating said actuating device to open said charging valve.

7. In an acetylene generator, the combination of a liquid container sealed to exclude air and form a gas chamber above liquid therein and having a gas generating tube depending into the lower portion thereof, a carbide feed hopper having a feed duct entering said tube, a master valve controlling said duct, means actuated by the pressure of gas in said container for actuating said valve andregulating the supply of carbide to said tube, a carbide charging hopper detachably connected by an air excluding duct with said feed hopper for transferring carbide from the charging hopper to the feed hopper, a charging valve serving to automatically close said air excluding duct from below when the charging hopper is removed, said charging hopper having a port outlet adapted to register with said air excluding duct when the charging hopper is connected with the feed hopper, a valve for closing said port outlet, an actuating device for opening said charging valve, means connected with the port outlet valve and actuating device for simultaneously opening the former and operating the latter to open said master valve.

8. In an acetylene generator, the combination of a liquid container sea-led to exclude air and form a gas chamber above liquid therein and having a gas generating tube depending into the lower portion thereof, a carbide feed hopper having a feed duct entering said tube, a master valve controlling said duct, means actuated, by the pressure of gas in said container for actuating said valve and regulating the supply of carbide to said tube, a carbide charging hopper detachably connected by an air excluding duct with said feed hopper'for transferring carbide from the charging hopper to the feed hopper, a charging valve serving to automatically close said air excluding duct from below when the charging hopper is removed, said charging hopper having a port outlet adapted to register with said air excluding duct when the charging hopper is connected with the feed hopper, avalve for closing said port outlet, an actuating device for opening said charging valve, controlling means connected with the port outlet valve and actuating device for simultaneously opening the former and operating the latter to open said master valve, and means for preventing the removal of the charging hopper from the feed hopper until said controlling means has functioned.

I 9. In an acetylene generator, the combination of a liquid container sealed to exclude air and form a gas chamber above liquid therein and having a gas generating tube depending into the lower portion thereof, a carbide feed hopper having a feed duct entering said tube, a master valve controlling said duct, means actuated by the pressure of gas in said container for actuating said valve and regulating the supply of carbide to said tube, a carbide charging hopper removably secured to said feed hoper by a separable coupling and connected by an air excluding duct traversing said coupling with said feed hopper for transferring carbide from the charging hopper to the feed hopper, a charging valve serving to close said air excluding duct when the charging hopper is removed, said charging hopper having a port outlet adapted to register with said air excluding duct when the charging hopper is connected with the feed hopper, a valve for closing said port outlet, an actuating device for opening said charging valve, control means connected with said port outlet valve and actuating device for simultaneously opening the former and operating the latter to open said master valve, and means for preventing the uncoupling of said charging hopper from the feed hopper until said control means has functioned to close said port outlet valve and master valve.

10. An acetylene generator, comprising, in combination, a liquid container, two cooperating hoppers, one a carbide feed hopper having a feed duct connected with said container and the other a carbide charging hopper having an outlet, a coupling by which said outlet is connected with the feed hopper having coupling elements and fastening means by which said coupling elements are separably secured to produce an air excluding connection and whereby the charging hopper is removable from the feed hopper, said coupling elements being united by a swivel movement, a master valve controlling the outlet from said charging hopper, a guard normally guarding said fastening means against removal and movable by a swivel movement to free the fastening means, and means for simultaneously causing said valve to close and said guard to turn and free said coupling fastening means.

11. An acetylene generator, comprising, in combination, a liquid container, two cooperating hoppers, one a carbide feed hopper having a feed duct connected with said container and the other a carbide charging hopper having an outlet, a coupling by which said outlet is connected with the feed hopper having coupling elements and fastening means by which said coupling elements are separably secured together whereby the charging hopper is removable from the feed hopper, a master va-lve controlling the outlet from said charging hopper, a guard normally guarding said fastening means against removal and movable to free the fastening means, and means for simultaneously causing said valve to close and said guard to free said coupling fastening means.

12. In an acetylene generator, a liquid container into which carbide is adapted to be fed to generate gas in said container and having a gas outlet and a service duct for supplying liquid thereto, an egress duct for draining excess liquid therefrom, service supply and outlet valves controlling said service and egress ducts having oppositely disposed operating elements, a float controlled lever having its work end playing between said operating elements to actuate said valves according to the level of liquid in said container, a check valve in the service duct ahead of the liquid supply valve actuated by abnormal pressure of gas in the liquid container to close the service duct from further supply of liquid to the container independently oi the operation of the service supply valve.

13. In an acetylene generator, a liquid container into which carbide is adapted to be fed to generate gas in said container and having a gas outlet and a service duct for supplying liquid thereto, an egress duct for draining excess liquid therefrom, service supply and outlet valves controlling said service and egress ducts having operating elements, means for actuating said valves according to the level of liquid in said container, and a check valve in the service duct ahead oi the liquid supply valve adapted to be actuated by abnormal pressure of gas in the liquid container to close the service duct from further supply of liquid to the container independently of the operation of the service supply valve.

14. In an acetylene generator, a liquid container into which carbide is adapted to be fed to generate gas in said container and having a gas outlet and a service duct for supplying liquid thereto, an egress duct for draining excess liquid therefrom, service and outlet valves controlling said service and egress ducts having operating elements, means for actuating said valves according to the level of liquid in said container, a by-pass around the service valve for admitting liquid of reduced temperature into the liquid container and a thermostat influenced by the temperature of the liquid in the liquid container for controlling the by-pass.

DAVID F. GETGER. 

